Hesburger

Hesburger (commonly known in Finland as Hese) is a fast-food chain based in Turku, Finland. Today, it is the largest Finnish hamburger restaurant chain, with a larger presence in the Finnish market than U.S.-based McDonald's. With only 12 outlets in 1992, Hesburger expanded to over 200 restaurants in 60 towns across Finland over the following decade, absorbing rival chain Carrols in 2002. Hesburger has also expanded to international markets, opening outlets in the Baltic states and Germany. There was a Hesburger in Damascus, Syria for a short period between 2004 and 2006, but it was closed as unprofitable. Hesburger has about 260 restaurants in Finland, 31 in Latvia, 29 in Estonia, 29 in Lithuania, four in Germany and eight in Russia. Hesburger continues with attempts to penetrate the Middle East markets, via contracts with local companies.